INTRODUCTION
Chairman Roa,

Administrator Valencia,

Honorable members of the Social Security Commission,

Fellow workers in government,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen:

Thirty-five years ago, our post-war leaders had the vision to establish a social security system that would promote social justice by providing social security protection to private workers and their families in times of contingencies such as death, disability, retirement and sickness.

Today, I join the nation in congratulating the SSS, under the leadership of Chairman Roa and Administrator Valencia, for having achieved that vision, and for its 35 years of committed and dedicated service.

From an initial membership of about 200,000 and assets of about p5 million in 1957, SSS –through dedication, service and prudent management — has become one of the nation’s strongest and most solid financial institutions today, catering to over thirteen million members, as well as their families, nationwide.

In recent years, to enable the vast majority of its members to rise from poverty and to improve their quality of life, SSS, like similar institutions in other more progressive nations, has taken on the additional mandates of being an instrument of distributive justice and a catalyst for the country’s socio-economic development.

As an instrument of distributive justice, SSS develops and implements benefit and loan programs which generally favor the poor and the disadvantaged members.

As a catalyst for socio-economic development, SSS sponsors investment programs which generate employment and offer entrepreneurial opportunities, especially to small and medium enterprises.

SSS also assists the national government in providing decent education, health care, housing and other basic services to its members, especially the poor.

Thus, SSS can very well be called as one of the major instruments of people empowerment. In a very real sense, the SSS, as a service institution, has become a strategic agency that influences to a substantial degree the economic growth of the nation itself.
PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
It is in this light that I am pleased to announce two major benefit enhancements for our pensioners listed as of August 31, 1992:

1. A 10% across-the-board increase in pensions of all SSS and employee compensation pensioners existing as of August 31, 1992; and

2. A monthly supplemental allowance of THREE hundred pesos to all SSS partial disability pensioners.

We expect about 400,000 pensioners to benefit immediately from these increases — which shall also mean for SSS an incremental disbursement of p3.2 billion over the next five years.

I am also pleased to accept the social security commission’s proposals for amendments in its charter — to enable it to become even more effective in its functions and more responsive to the needs and aspirations of its clientele.

After a review by my office, I shall happily certify these proposals as a priority bill to Congress.
MEMBERS ASSISTANCE CENTER
Let me also commend SSS for pioneering in the establishment of this Members’ Assistance Center which, I understand, will be duplicated — although of course on a smaller scale — in all your regional and provincial branches.

This center impresses me as a modern, well-planned, and client-friendly office.

I understand, it uses that latest technology in paperless and computerized transactions designed to speed up and improve the quality of your service to your members.

I urge SSS to replicate this Members Assistance Center in key cities and municipalities nationwide at the earliest possible time, so that you can deliver efficient, quality and convenient services to your members in a more responsive fashion whenever they may be.
CONCLUSION
Again, congratulations on your 35th anniversary and for the establishment of this Model Members Assistance Center.

Finally, I call on all the men and women of SSS to pursue, with even more vigor and dedication, your mission to provide responsive, uniform and meaningful social security protection to all those of our countrymen who count on you for help and comfort.

Mabuhay ang Social Security System at lahat ng kanyang magigiting na kawani!

Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat!